Buckle.



M. A. COOPER.

BUCKLE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1910.

Ezgl.

Patent ed Feb. 27, 19.12;

wi/lmzooeo Ma 71861244. 00,1767

61 Henna onrrsn srarns PATENT OFFICE.

- MATTHEW A. COOPER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BUCKLE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MATTHEW A. COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in attaching devices or buckles for retaining the ends of belts, and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the ends of the belts will be entirely obscured from view when positioned upon the buckle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a securing device or buckle which provides means whereby a variety of belts may be easily and quickly connected therewith or removed therefrom so that the wearer is not restricted to the use of a single belt.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pair of members or sections, one being provided with studs adapted to receive the eyes or openings at the ends of the belt and the other adapted to slide in either direction upon the said member so that access to either end of a belt may be readily obtained, the sliding member being given a limited movement in either direc tion, and when the ends of the belts are se cured upon the first member, the said sliding member completely obscures the ends of the belts having the eyes or openings.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated a simple and preferred embodiment of the improvement and in which drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a buckle and belt connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the outer or ornamental member drawn to one side of the stationary member. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the outer member drawn to the opposite side of the stationary member. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device. Fig. 5 is a central transverse section of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal view.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates an ordinary belt, the same having its opposite ends provided with a series of openings or perforations 2.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 19, 1910.

' Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Serial No. 593,171.

The numeral 3 designates the improved buckle or fastening device for the belt. The member 3, being adapted to engage and re tain the ends of the belt will, hereinafter, for the sake of convenience be referred to as a buckle. The buckle 3 comprises a pair of members 4 and 5. The inner member 5 is of a substantially Ushaped cross sectional formation, comprising a body 6 and outwardly inclined flanges or edges 7. The member 4 is also of a substantially U-shaped cross sectional formation, comprising the body 8 integrally formed with the inturned longitudinally extending sides or edges 9, the said inturned members 9 being adapted to snugly fit over the outturned flanges 7 of the inner member 5, so that one of the members is slidable upon the other. The outer member 4- may be constructed of any desired material, but is preferably formed of some precious metal having a suitable design or monogram of the wearer or other ornament as desired and one of the sides 9 of the said member is provided with an upwardly or downwardly extending resilient tongue 10, the said tongue being. provided witli-a stud 11 which is adapted to be received within a centrally arranged depression or pocket 12 formed upon the outer face of the body 6 of the inner member to form an automatic interlocking connection between the tongue and inner member. .By this arrangement, it will be noted that the members 4: and 5 are effectively retained one upon the other without danger of accigental movement of either of the said memers.

It is to be understood that the tongue 10 has its stud arranged approximately central of the member 4 so that the said member completely covers the inner member 5 when the stud engages within the pocket 12. The body 6 is provided adjacent one of its longitudinal edges with V-shaped slits, and the metal between the said slits is bent outwardly to form teeth 13, the latter adapted to be inserted within the waistband of the wearer to secure the said member against lateral movement. The transverse edges of the body 6 of the said member 5 are also formed with oppositely arranged V-shaped projections 14, the same not only serving as an additional sustaining means for the buckle, but also effectively limiting the longitudinal movement of the outer member 4 upon the inner member 5, so that the said outer member is allowed only a limited movement in either direction, and this movement is sufficient to uncover the centrally arranged studs or pins provided adjacent the transverse edges of the inner face of the member 5. Each of these studs is adapted to be received within the openings 2 of the belt 1, and it will be readily noted that when one end of the said belt is positioned upon one of the headed studs or pins 15, the movement of the outer member 4 in the direction of the belt discloses the opposite headed stud or pin 15 so that the opposite end of the belt may have its opening positioned upon the said stud. Then the belt is thus secured, the outer member 4 is slid upon the inner member 5 until the stud 11 provided by the tongue 10 enters the pocket 12 and the outer member 4 effectively covers the inner member and the openings provided by the belt.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, is

1. A belt buckle comprising a pair of substantially cross sectional U-shaped members, one slidable upon the other, the outer member adapted to completely cover the face of the inner member, said inner member being formed with cloth engaging teeth arranged adjacent to one of its longitudinal edges, the transverse edges of the inner member having stops, a tongue upon the outer member, said tongue adapted to contact with the Copies of this patent may be obtained for stops of the inner member to limit the sliding movement of the outer member and to provide an automatic interlocking connection between the tongue and the inner mem-' ber, and the inner member having headed piI11s to engage with the openings of the be t.

2. In a buckle of the class set forth, a pair of substantially cross-sectional U- shaped members, one having its off-set portions straddling the off-set portions of the second member, the first named member having one of its off-set portions provided with a resilient tongue which is adapted to contact the rear face of the inner member, said tongue being formed with a stud, the rear face of the inner member having a central pocket adapted to receive the stud, the edges of the inner member being provided with Vshaped projections adapted to limit the sliding movement of the outer member upon the said inner member, and the inner face of the inner member being provided adj acentits transverse edges with headed pins, and said pins adapted to engage the openings of the belt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MATTHEW A. COOPER.

Witnesses:

A. D. FLEMING, J. W. MoQUIs'roN.

figs cents each, by-addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

